PIB Srinagar holds ‘Vartalap’ on new criminal laws

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, June 26: The Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, Srinagar, today organized a media workshop titled ‘Vartalap’ on the three new legislations: ‘Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita’ (BNS), ‘Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita’ (BNSS), and ‘Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam’ (BSA) of 2023.
The workshop aimed to sensitize the media in Kashmir about the spirit and intent behind these new criminal laws.
During the workshop, speakers explained the rationale for introducing these laws and highlighted some of the significant departures from the Indian Penal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code and the Indian Evidence Act.
In his welcome address, Qazi Salman Ibrahim, Joint Director, PIB Srinagar, stated that the main aim of these legislations is to ‘decolonize’ criminal laws from the British era.
Speaking on the occasion, Dar Rashid, Senior Prosecuting Officer, J&K Prosecution Services, said that the three new laws-‘Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita’, ‘Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita’, and ‘Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam’-will give a new direction to the criminal justice system in India.
Describing these laws as a shift from an archaic colonial system, he emphasized that they have been designed and drafted by Indians for Indians, with the objective of ensuring justice.
Advocate Sheikh Umar Farooq, Senior Advocate, J&K High Court, in his address, said that these new laws are in line with Indian ethos and have made a significant shift towards becoming more victim-centric.
Advocate Naveed Gul, Senior Advocate, J&K High Court, added that the three new criminal laws aim to make the criminal justice system more accessible, accountable, credible and justice-driven.
At the end of the workshop, a question-and-answer session was organized, during which participants’ queries were addressed by the panelists.
The proceedings of the workshop were conducted by Tariq Ahmed Rather, Deputy Director, PIB Srinagar.
The Media Workshop was attended by Editor News, DD News Srinagar, Sheikh Mudasir Amin, Information Assistant, PIB Srinagar, Ifham Ul Islam, and members of the media fraternity of Srinagar.